Control device, multi-projection system and control method of control device

ABSTRACT

A control device configured to communicate with a first projector which projects a first image in a first projection area, and a second projector which projects a second image in a second projection area having a first overlap area overlapping the first projection area to make the first projector and the second projector perform an edge blending process includes a reception section for receiving input of designation information including a direction in which an overlap width, a generation section for generating first overlap information including information representing first side in the first overlap area and information representing the overlap width of the first overlap area, and second overlap information including information representing second side in the first overlap area and the information, and a transmission section for transmitting the first overlap information to the first projector, and the second overlap information to the second projector.

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JPApplication Serial Number 2018-160070, filed Aug. 29, 2018, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a control device, a multi-projectionsystem and a control method of the control device.

2. Related Art

In recent years, there has been proposed a multi-projection system whichcombines respective images projected from a plurality of projectors witheach other. When combining the respective images with each other, thereis performed an edge blending process for overlapping the projectionareas where the images are projected with each other and then adjustingthe luminance of a part or the whole of the overlapping area are theprojection areas overlap each other in order to make the junction of theimages inconspicuous. In JP-A-2017-17509 (Document 1), there isdisclosed a multi-projection system having a plurality of projectorseach performing the edge blending process. The user inputs settings ofthe edge blending process to each of the projectors.

However, in the related art described above, since it becomes necessaryto input the settings of the edge blending process to each of theprojectors, there is a problem that it takes a lot of trouble with theinput of the settings of the edge blending process.

SUMMARY

A control device according to a preferable aspect of the presentdisclosure is a control device configured to communicate with a firstprojector which projects a first image in a first projection area of aprojection surface, and a second projector which projects a second imagein a second projection area having a first overlap area overlapping thefirst projection area to make the first projector and the secondprojector perform an edge blending process of adjusting a luminance ofan image projected in one of a part and a whole of the first overlaparea, including a reception section configured to receive input ofdesignation information including information representing a directionin which the first projection area overlaps the second projection area,and information representing a width of the first overlap area, ageneration section configured to generate first overlap informationincluding information representing a first side of the first projectionarea included in the first overlap area and information representing thewidth of the first overlap area, and second overlap informationincluding information representing a second side of the secondprojection area included in the first overlap area and informationrepresenting the width of the first overlap area based on thedesignation information, and a transmission section configured totransmit the first overlap information to the first projector, and thesecond overlap information to the second projector.

A control device according to a preferable aspect of the presentdisclosure is a control device configured to communicate with a firstprojector which projects a first image in a first projection area of aprojection surface, a second projector which projects a second image ina second projection area having a first overlap area overlapping thefirst projection area in a first direction, a third projector whichprojects a third image in a third projection area of the projectionsurface based on third image data, and a fourth projector which projectsa fourth image in a fourth projection area having a second overlap areaoverlapping the third projection area in the first direction based onfourth image data to make the first projector and the second projectorperform an edge blending process of adjusting a luminance of an imageprojected in a part of the first overlap area, and make the thirdprojector and the fourth projector perform an edge blending process ofadjusting a luminance of an image projected in a part of the secondoverlap area, the edge blending process being a process of adjusting aluminance of an image projected in a first area from a start line whichis a line parallel to a second side of the second projection area anddetermines a starting position to a first side of the first projectionarea in the first overlap area, and a second area from the start line toa fourth side of the fourth projection area in the second overlap area,the control device including a reception section configured to receivedesignation information including a first distance from the start lineto the first side, a second distance from the second side to the startline, information representing a direction in which the first projectionarea overlaps the second projection area, and information representing adirection in which the third projection area overlaps the fourthprojection area, a generation section configured to generate firstoverlap information including information representing the first side ofthe first projection area and information representing the firstdistance, second overlap information including information representingthe second side of the second projection area and informationrepresenting the first distance and the second distance, third overlapinformation including information representing the third side of thethird projection area and the information representing the firstdistance and the second distance, and fourth overlap informationincluding information representing the fourth side of the fourthprojection area and the information representing the first distancebased on the designation information, and a transmission sectionconfigured to transmit the first overlap information to the firstprojector, the second overlap information to the second projector, thethird overlap information to the third projector, and the fourth overlapinformation to the fourth projector.

A multi-projection system according to a preferable aspect of thepresent disclosure is a multi-projection system including a firstprojector configured to project a first image in a first projection areaof a projection surface based on first image data, a second projectorconfigured to project a second image in a second projection area havinga first overlap area overlapping the first projection area based onsecond image data, an image providing device configured to provide thefirst image data to the first projector, and the second image data tothe second projector, and a control device configured to make the firstprojector and the second projector perform an edge blending process ofadjusting a luminance of an image projected in one of a part and a wholeof the first overlap area, wherein the control device includes areception section configured to receive input of designation informationincluding information representing a direction in which the firstprojection area overlaps the second projection area, and informationrepresenting a width of the first overlap area, a generation sectionconfigured to generate first overlap information including informationrepresenting a first side of the first projection area included in thefirst overlap area and the information representing the width of thefirst overlap area, and second overlap information including informationrepresenting a second side of the second projection area included in thefirst overlap area and the information representing the width of thefirst overlap area based on the designation information, and atransmission section configured to transmit the first overlapinformation to the first projector, and the second overlap informationto the second projector, the first projector includes a first executionsection configured to perform the edge blending process in one of a partand a whole of the first overlap area of the first image based on thefirst image data and the first overlap information, and a firstprojection section configured to project an image obtained by performingthe edge blending process, and the second projector includes a secondexecution section configured to perform the edge blending process in oneof a part and a whole of the first overlap area of the second imagebased on the second image data and the second overlap information, and asecond projection section configured to project an image obtained byperforming the edge blending process.

A multi-projection system according to a preferable aspect of thepresent disclosure is a multi-projection system including a firstprojector configured to project a first image in a first projection areaof a projection surface based on first image data, a second projectorconfigured to project a second image in a second projection area havinga first overlap area overlapping the first projection area based onsecond image data, and a control device configured to make the firstprojector and the second projector perform an edge blending process ofadjusting a luminance of an image projected in one of a part and a wholeof the first overlap area, wherein the control device includes a storagesection configured to store the first image data and the second imagedata, a reception section configured to receive input of designationinformation including information representing a direction in which thefirst projection area overlaps the second projection area, andinformation representing a width of the first overlap area, a generationsection configured to generate first overlap information includinginformation representing a first side of the first projection areaincluded in the first overlap area and the information representing thewidth of the first overlap area, and second overlap informationincluding information representing a second side of the secondprojection area included in the first overlap area and the informationrepresenting the width of the first overlap area based on thedesignation information, an execution section configured to perform theedge blending process in one of a part and a whole of the first overlaparea of the first image based on the first image data and the firstoverlap information, and perform the edge blending process in one of apart and a whole of the first overlap area of the second image based onthe second image data and the second overlap information, and atransmission section configured to transmit first edge blending imagedata representing an image obtained by performing the edge blendingprocess in one of a part and a whole of the first overlap area of thefirst image to the first projector, and transmit second edge blendingimage data representing an image obtained by performing the edgeblending process in one of a part and a whole of the first overlap areaof the second image to the second projector, the first projectorincludes a first projection section configured to project the imagerepresented by the first edge blending image data, and the secondprojector includes a second projection section configured to project theimage represented by the second edge blending image data.

A control method of a control device according to a preferable aspect ofthe present disclosure is a control method of a control deviceconfigured to communicate with a first projector which projects a firstimage in a first projection area of a projection surface, and a secondprojector which projects a second image in a second projection areahaving a first overlap area overlapping the first projection area tomake the first projector and the second projector perform an edgeblending process of adjusting a luminance of an image projected in oneof a part and a whole of the first overlap area, the method includingthe steps of receiving, by the control device, input of designationinformation including information representing a direction in which thefirst projection area overlaps the second projection area, andinformation representing a width of the first overlap area, generating,by the control device, first overlap information including informationrepresenting a first side of the first projection area included in thefirst overlap area and the information representing the width of thefirst overlap area, and second overlap information including informationrepresenting a second side of the second projection area included in thefirst overlap area and the information representing the width of thefirst overlap area based on the designation information, andtransmitting, by the control device, the first overlap information tothe first projector, and the second overlap information to the secondprojector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a multi-projection system 1 according to afirst embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of themulti-projection system 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement setting screen201.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an edge blending settingscreen 203 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a projection section 88.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart showing a content of anoperation of the multi-projection system 1.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart representing a content of anedge blending setting screen displaying process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a multi-projection system 1 according to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between projectionareas PA in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of confirmation images KG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a positional relationship betweenprojection areas PA in a first modified example.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an edge blending settingscreen 203 in the first modified example.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of projection of confirmationimages KG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of amulti-projection system 1 according to a third modified example.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that ineach of the drawings, the size and the scale of each of the constituentsare arbitrarily made different from actual ones. Further, although theembodiments described below are preferable specific examples of thepresent disclosure, and are therefore provided with a variety oftechnically preferable limitations, the scope of the present disclosureis not limited to these embodiments unless the description to limit thepresent disclosure is particularly presented in the followingdescription.

A. EMBODIMENTS

A control device 2 according to the present embodiment will hereinafterbe described.

A.1. General Description of Control Device 2

FIG. 1 shows a multi-projection system 1. The multi-projection system 1includes a first projector 8-1 and a second projector 8-2, the controldevice 2 and an image providing device 4. The number of projectors 8constituting the multi-projection system 1 is not limited to two, butcan also be larger than two.

In the following description, when discriminating elements of the sametype from each other, there are used the reference symbols such as thefirst projector 8-1 and the second projector 8-2. In contrast, when notdiscriminating the elements of the same type from each other, there isused the common number alone such as the projector 8 out of thereference symbols.

In the multi-projection system 1, the first projector 8-1 projects afirst image G-1 in a first projection area PA-1 of a projection surfaceSC, and the second projector 8-2 projects a second image G-2 in a secondprojection area PA-2 of the projection surface SC.

In the following description, there are defined an X axis and a Y axison the projection surface SC. The X axis and the Y axis areperpendicular to each other. Since the projection surface SC is normallyperpendicular to the ground, a positive direction of the X axis and anegative direction of the X axis are hereinafter collectively referredto as a “horizontal direction” in some cases. Similarly, a positivedirection of the Y axis and a negative direction of the Y axis arecollectively referred to as a “vertical direction” in some cases. Thepositive direction of the X axis or the negative direction of the X axisis an example of a “first direction.” The positive direction of the Yaxis or the negative direction of the Y axis is an example of a “seconddirection.”

As shown in FIG. 1, the first projection area PA-1 and the secondprojection area PA-2 overlap each other. An area where the firstprojection area PA-1 and the second projection area PA-2 overlap eachother is referred to as a first overlap area DA-1.

The multi-projection system 1 performs an edge blending process ofadjusting the luminance of an image projected in a part or the whole ofthe overlap area DA. By performing the edge blending process, thejunction between the images G becomes inconspicuous. The descriptionwill hereinafter be presented assuming that the edge blending process isfor adjusting the luminance of the whole of the overlap area DA for thesake of simplification of the explanation.

The control device 2 controls the projectors 8. The image providingdevice 4 provides the projectors 8 with image data GD representing theimages G to be projected by the projectors 8. Specifically, the imageproviding device 4 provides the first image data GD-1 to the firstprojector 8-1, and the second image data GD-2 to the second projector8-2. The projectors 8, the control device 2 and the image providingdevice 4 are coupled to each other via a network 6 such as a local areanetwork (LAN).

A.2. Configuration of First Embodiment

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the multi-projection system 1.The control device 2 has a display section 20, an operation section 22,a processing section 24 and a storage section 26.

The display section 20 is electrically coupled to the processing section24, and is formed of a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel, anelectronic paper panel or an organic electroluminescence panel.

The operation section 22 receives an operation by the user. Theoperation section 22 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse.

The processing section 24 is a computer such as a central processingunit (CPU). The processing section 24 can also be formed of oneprocessor, or a plurality of processors. The processing section 24retrieves and then executes a program stored in the storage section 26to thereby be provided with a reception section 241, a generationsection 245 and a transmission section 246.

The reception section 241 receives input of designation information 261including information representing a direction in which the firstprojection area PA-1 overlaps the second projection area PA-2, andinformation representing the width of the first overlap area DA-1. Thewidth of the first overlap area DA-1 is specifically the width in adirection in which first projection area PA-1 overlaps the secondprojection area PA-2. The overlapping width is hereinafter referred toas an “overlap width.” The designation information 261 is stored in thestorage section 26.

In order to be used for input of the overlapping direction out of thedesignation information 261, the display section 20 displays a firstsimulant image SG-1 for simulating the first projection area PA-1 and asecond simulant image SG-2 for simulating the second projection areaPA-2.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an arrangement setting screen 201 to bedisplayed on the display section 20. The arrangement setting screen 201includes an ARRANGEMENT SETTING button 2011 and an EDGE BLENDING SETTINGbutton 2012 arranged in an upper part of the arrangement setting screen201, a SAVE button 2014 and an ADD PROJECTOR button 2015 arranged in amiddle area of the arrangement setting screen 201, and a projection areaarranging area 2017 arranged in a lower part of the arrangement settingscreen 201. The projection area arranging area 2017 includes the firstsimulant image SG-1 and the second simulant image SG-2. The direction inwhich the projection areas PA overlap each other is determined inaccordance with the positional relationship between the simulant imagesSG arranged in the projection area arranging area 2017. The ARRANGEMENTSETTING button 2011 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with grid-like hatching.

The reception section 241 receives input of a move operation of thefirst simulant image SG-1 and the second simulant image SG-2 to identifythe direction in which the first simulant image SG-1 and the secondsimulant image SG-2 overlap each other based on the input of the moveoperation of the first simulant image SG-1 and the second simulant imageSG-2. For example, the user performs a drag operation on the firstsimulant image SG-1 or the second simulant image SG-2. The receptionsection 241 identify the overlapping direction based on the positionalrelationship between the first simulant image SG-1 and the secondsimulant image SG-2.

The first projection area PA-1 and the second projection area PA-2overlap each other in the horizontal direction or the verticaldirection. In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the first simulantimage SG-1 and the second simulant image SG-2 are arranged along alateral direction, the first projection area PA-1 and the secondprojection area PA-2 overlap each other in the horizontal direction.

Regarding the overlap width, when the first projection area PA-1 and thesecond projection area PA-2 overlap each other in the horizontaldirection, the designation information 261 includes the informationrepresenting the width in the horizontal direction of the first overlaparea DA-1. In contrast, when the first projection area PA-1 and thesecond projection area PA-2 overlap each other in the verticaldirection, the designation information 261 includes the informationrepresenting the width in the vertical direction of the first overlaparea DA-1. An input example of the overlap width will be described usingFIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the edge blending setting screen 203. Theedge blending setting screen 203 includes the ARRANGEMENT SETTING button2011 and the EDGE BLENDING SETTING button 2012 arranged in the upperpart of the edge blending setting screen 203, an input area 2031 of theedge blending process in the horizontal direction and an input area 2035of the edge blending process in the vertical direction arranged in themiddle part of the edge blending setting screen 203, and a BATCH SETTINGbutton 2039. The EDGE BLENDING SETTING button 2012 shown in FIG. 4 isprovided with grid-like hatching. This means that the name of the buttonprovided with the grid-like hatching is the name of the present screen.

The input area 2031 has an entry field 2032 a for inputting the overlapwidth when the first projection area PA-1 and the second projection areaPA-2 overlap each other in the horizontal direction, a decrement button2032 b, an increment button 2032 c and a preview image 2033. Due to aholding-down operation of the keyboard by the user, a numerical valuerepresenting the overlap width is input to the entry field 2032 a. Dueto a holding-down operation of the decrement button 2032 b by the userwith the mouse, the numerical value in the entry field 2032 b isdecremented. Due to a holding-down operation of the increment button2032 c by the user with the mouse, the numerical value in the entryfield 2032 b is incremented. The preview image 2033 shows an area of theedge blending process when performing the edge blending process usingthe numerical value in the entry field 2032 a as the overlap width.

The input area 2035 has an entry field 2036 a for inputting the overlapwidth when the first projection area PA-1 and the second projection areaPA-2 overlap each other in the vertical direction, a decrement button2036 b, an increment button 2036 c and a preview image 2037. Due to aholding-down operation of the keyboard by the user, a numerical valuerepresenting the overlap width is input to the entry field 2036 a. Dueto a holding-down operation of the decrement button 2036 b by the userwith the mouse, the numerical value in the entry field 2036 b isdecremented. Due to a holding-down operation of the increment button2036 c by the user with the mouse, the numerical value in the entryfield 2036 b is incremented. The preview image 2037 shows an area of theedge blending process when performing the edge blending process usingthe numerical value in the entry field 2036 a as the overlap width.

The description will be returned to FIG. 2. The reception section 241receives the input of the designation information 261. Specifically, thereception section 241 receives the input of the move operation of thefirst simulant image SG-1 and the second simulant image SG-2 and theinput of the overlap width, and identifies the overlapping directionbased on the input of the move operation of the first simulant imageSG-1 and the second simulant image SG-2 to generate the designationinformation 261 including the overlapping direction thus identified andthe overlapping width.

The generation section 245 generates first overlap information 262-1 andsecond overlap information 262-2 based on the designation information261. In FIG. 2, in order to avoid complication of the drawing, theoverlap information 262 is described as a representative of the firstoverlap information 262-1 and the second overlap information 262-2. Thefirst overlap information 262-1 includes information representing afirst side S-1 of the first projection area PA-1 included in the firstoverlap area DA-1 and information representing the width of the firstoverlap area DA-1. The information representing the width of the firstoverlap area DA-1 is the information representing the overlap width inthe overlapping direction in the first overlap area DA-1. The secondoverlap information 262-2 includes information representing a secondside S-2 of the second projection area PA-2 included in the firstoverlap area DA-1 and information representing the overlap width of thefirst overlap area DA-1. The generation section 245 generates the samenumber of pieces of overlap information 262 as the number of theprojectors 8.

The information representing the side S is, for example, an identifierfor identifying the side S or a character string representing the sideS. For example, the character string representing the side S corresponds“upper side,” “left side,” “right side” or “lower side.” The informationrepresenting the overlap width is, for example, the number of pixels ofthe overlap width, a value representing the overlap width in the metricsystem, or a value representing a proportion of the overlap width to thewidth in the overlapping direction in the projection area PA inpercentage. As aspects of the overlap information 262, there can becited, for example, the two alternatives described below. The firstaspect of the overlap information 262 includes only the informationrepresenting the side S and the information representing the overlapwidth. The second aspect of the overlap information 262 corresponds tothe information representing all of the sides of the overlap area DA,and the information representing the overlap width of each of the sides.

Using the example shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, since the first side S-1is set to the right side, and the overlap width is set to 30, the secondaspect of the first overlap information 262-1 becomes, for example,“upper side 0, left side 0, right side 30, lower side 0.” Similarly,since the first side S-2 is set to the left side, and the overlap widthis set to 30, the second aspect of the second overlap information 262-2becomes, for example, “upper side 0, left side 30, right side 0, lowerside 0.”

The transmission section 246 transmits the first overlap information262-1 to the first projector 8-1, and the second overlap information262-2 to the second projector 8-2.

The storage section 26 is a recording medium which can be read by theprocessing section 24. The storage section 26 is formed of one or morespecies of storage circuits such as a read only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable ROM (RPROM), an electrically erasable programmableROM (EEPROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The storage section 26stores the designation information 261 and the overlap information 262.

The first projector 8-1 has a first receiving section 82-1, a firstreception section 84-1, a first processing section 86-1 and a firstprojection section 88-1. The second projector 8-2 has a second receivingsection 82-2, a second reception section 84-2, a second processingsection 86-2 and a second projection section 88-2. Hereinafter, thedescription will be presented using the first projector 8-1 as anexample.

The first receiving section 82-1 receives the first image data GD-1 fromthe image providing device 4.

The first reception section 84-1 receives the first overlap information262-1 from the control device 2.

The first processing section 86-1 is a computer such as a CPU. The firstprocessing section 86-1 can also be formed of one processor, or aplurality of processors. The first processing section 86-1 retrieves andthen executes a program stored in a storage section of the firstprojector 8-1 to thereby be provided with a first execution section861-1.

The first execution section 861-1 performs the edge blending process inthe first overlap area DA-1 of the first image G-1 based on the firstimage data GD-1 and the first overlap information 262-1.

The first projection section 88-1 projects an image obtained byperforming the edge blending process in the first overlap area DA-1 ofthe first image G-1.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the projection section 88. The projectionsection 88 includes a light source 881, three liquid crystal lightvalves 882R, 882G and 882B as an example of a light modulation device, aprojection lens 883 as an example of a projection optical system, alight valve drive section 884 and so on. The projection section 88modulates the light emitted from the light source 881 with the liquidcrystal light valves 882 to form an image, and then projects the imagefrom the projection lens 883 in an enlarged manner. The image isdisplayed on the projection surface SC.

The light source 881 includes a light source section 881 a formed of axenon lamp, a super high-pressure mercury lamp, an LED, a laser sourceor the like, and a reflector 881 b for reducing a variation in directionof the light radiated by the light source section 881 a. The lightemitted from the light source 881 is reduced in variation in theluminance distribution by an integrator optical system not shown, and isthen separated by a color separation optical system not shown intocolored light components of red, green and blue as three primary colorsof light. The colored light components of red, green and bluerespectively enter the liquid crystal light valves 882R, 882G and 882B.

The liquid crystal light valves 882 are each formed of a liquid crystalpanel having a liquid crystal material encapsulated between a pair oftransparent substrates, and so on. The liquid crystal light valves 882are each provided with a pixel area 882 a having a rectangular shape andformed of a plurality of pixels 882 p arranged in a matrix. In each ofthe liquid crystal light valves 882, it is possible to apply a drivevoltage to the liquid crystal for each of the pixels 882 p. When thelight valve drive section 884 applies the drive voltages correspondingto the image data representing the image to be projected on theprojection surface SC to the respective pixels 882 p, each of the pixels882 p is set to a light transmittance corresponding to imageinformation. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 881 istransmitted through the pixel area 882 a to thereby be modulated, andthus, the image corresponding to the image data to be projected on theprojection surface SC is formed for each colored light.

The description will be returned to FIG. 2. The configuration of thesecond projector 8-2 is substantially the same as the configuration ofthe first projector 8-1. The second receiving section 82-2 receives thesecond image data GD-2 from the image providing device 4. The secondreception section 84-2 receives the second overlap information 262-2from the control device 2.

The second processing section 86-2 is a computer such as a CPU. Thesecond processing section 86-2 can also be formed of one processor, or aplurality of processors. The second processing section 86-2 retrievesand then executes a program stored in a storage section of the secondprojector 8-2 to thereby be provided with a second execution section861-2.

The second execution section 861-2 performs the edge blending process inthe first overlap area DA-1 of the second image G-2 based on the secondimage data GD-2 and the second overlap information 262-2. The secondprojection section 88-2 projects an image obtained by performing theedge blending process in the first overlap area DA-1 of the second imageG-2.

A.3. Operation of Multi-Projection System 1 in Present Embodiment

Then, the flowchart showing the content of the operation of themulti-projection system 1 will be described using FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the content of the operation of themulti-projection system 1. The display section 20 displays thearrangement setting screen 201 in the step S1. The processing section 24receives the operation to the arrangement setting screen 201 in the stepS2. The processing section 24 determines whether or not the operationhaving been received is an operation to the projection area arrangingarea 2017 in the step S3. The operation to the projection area arrangingarea 2017 is, for example, a drag operation of the mouse to the insideof the projection area arranging area 2017.

In the case of Yes in the step S3, namely when the operation having beenreceived is the operation to the projection area arranging area 2017,the processing section 24 sets the arrangement of the simulant image SGin accordance with the operation having been received in the step S4.For example, the processing section 24 moves the position of thesimulant image SG to be disposed at the starting position of the dragoperation to the ending position of the drag operation, and makes thedisplay section 20 display the simulant image SG having been moved.After the completion of the process in the step S4, the processingsection 24 returns the process to the step S2.

In contrast, in the case of No in the step S3, namely when the operationhaving been received is not the operation to the projection areaarranging area 2017, the processing section 24 determines whether or notthe operation having been received is a holding-down operation to theSAVE button 2014 in the step S5. In the case of Yes in the step S5,namely when the operation having been received is the holding-downoperation to the SAVE button 2014, the processing section 24 saves thearrangement of all of the simulant images SG in the projection areaarranging area 2017 in the step S6. After the completion of the processin the step S6, the processing section 24 returns the process to thestep S2.

In contrast, in the case of No in the step S5, namely when the operationhaving been received is not the holding-down operation to the SAVEbutton 2014, the processing section 24 determines whether or not theoperation having been received is a holding-down operation to the ADDPROJECTOR button 2015 in the step S7. In the case of Yes in the step S7,namely when the operation having been received is the holding-downoperation to the ADD PROJECTOR button 2015, the processing section 24adds a new simulant image SG in the projection area arranging area 2017in the step S8. After the completion of the process in the step S8, theprocessing section 24 returns the process to the step S2.

In contrast, in the case of No in the step S7, namely when the operationhaving been received is not the holding-down operation to the ADDPROJECTOR button 2015, the processing section 24 determines whether ornot the operation having been received is a deletion operation of thesimulant image SG in the step S9. In the case of Yes in the step S9,namely when the operation having been received is the deletion operationof the simulant image SG, the processing section 24 deletes the simulantimage SG in the step S10. After the completion of the process in thestep S10, the processing section 24 returns the process to the step S2.

In contrast, in the case of No in the step S9, namely when the operationhaving been received is not the deletion operation of the simulant imageSG, the processing section 24 determines whether or not the operationhaving been received is a holding-down operation to the EDGE BLENDINGSETTING button 2012 in the step S11. When the operation having beenreceived is not the holding-down operation to the EDGE BLENDING SETTINGbutton 2012 (No in the step S11), the processing section 24 returns theprocess to the step S2.

In the case of Yes in the step S11, namely when the operation havingbeen received is the holding-down operation to the EDGE BLENDING SETTINGbutton 2012, the processing section 24 performs the edge blendingsetting screen displaying process in the step S12.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a content of the edge blending settingscreen displaying process. The display section 20 displays the edgeblending setting screen 203 in the step S21. Then, the processingsection 24 receives an operation to the edge blending setting screen 203in the step S22. The processing section 24 determines whether or not theoperation having been received is an operation to the input area 2031for the edge blending process in the horizontal direction in the stepS23. The operation to the input area 2031 includes, for example, aninput operation of a numerical value to the entry field 2032 a, aholding-down operation of the decrement button 2032 b, and theholding-down operation of the increment button 2032 c.

In the case of Yes in the step S23, namely when the operation havingbeen received is the operation to the input area 2031 for the edgeblending process in the horizontal direction, the processing section 24sets the overlap width in the horizontal direction in accordance withthe operation having been received in the step S24. After the completionof the process in the step S24, the processing section 24 returns theprocess to the step S22.

In contrast, in the case of No in the step S23, namely when theoperation having been received is not the operation to the input area2031 for the edge blending process in the horizontal direction, theprocessing section 24 determines whether or not the operation havingbeen received is an operation to the input area 2035 for the edgeblending process in the vertical direction in the step S25. In the caseof Yes in the step S25, namely when the operation having been receivedis the operation to the input area 2035 for the edge blending process inthe vertical direction, the processing section 24 sets the overlap widthin the vertical direction in accordance with the operation in the stepS26. After the completion of the process in the step S26, the processingsection 24 returns the process to the step S22.

In contrast, in the case of No in the step S25, namely when theoperation having been received is not the operation to the input area2035 for the edge blending process in the vertical direction, theprocessing section 24 determines whether or not the operation havingbeen received is a holding-down operation to the BATCH SETTING button2039 in the step S27. In the case of Yes in the step S27, namely whenthe operation having been received is the holding-down operation to theBATCH SETTING button 2039, the reception section 241 generates thedesignation information 261 based on the arrangement of the simulantimages SG in the projection area arranging area 2017, the numericalvalue in the entry field 2032 a and the numerical value in the entryfield 2036 a as the operation input by the user in the step S28. Then,the generation section 245 generates the overlap information 262 foreach of the projectors 8 based on the designation information 261 in thestep S29. Then, the transmission section 246 transmits the overlapinformation 262 to the respective projectors 8 in the step S30. Afterthe completion of the process in the step S30, the processing section 24returns the process to the step S22.

In contrast, in the case of No in the step S27, namely when theoperation having been received is not the holding-down operation to theBATCH SETTING button 2039, the processing section 24 determines whetheror not the operation having been received is a holding-down operation tothe ARRANGEMENT SETTING button 2011 in the step S31. In the case of Noin the step S31, namely when the operation having been received is notthe holding-down operation to the ARRANGEMENT SETTING button 2011, theprocessing section 24 returns the process to the step S22. In contrast,in the case of No in the step S31, namely when the operation having beenreceived is the holding-down operation to the ARRANGEMENT SETTING button2011, the processing section 24 terminates the series of processes shownin FIG. 7. Then, the processing section 24 returns the process to thestep S1. Therefore, the display section 20 displays the arrangementsetting screen 201 once again.

A.4. Advantages of First Embodiment

As described hereinabove, in an aspect of the control device 2, thecontrol device 2 communicates with the first projector 8-1 forprojecting the first image G-1 in the first projection area PA-1 of theprojection surface SC based on the first image data GD-1, and the secondprojector 8-2 for projecting the second image G-2 in the secondprojection area PA-2 having the first overlap area DA-1 overlapping thefirst projection area PA-1 based on the second image data GD-2 tothereby make the first projector 8-1 and the second projector 8-2perform the edge blending process for adjusting the luminance of theimage projected in a part or the whole of the first overlap area DA-1.Further, the control device 2 has the reception section 241, thegeneration section 245 and the transmission section 246. The receptionsection 241 receives input of the designation information 261 includingthe information representing the direction in which the first projectionarea PA-1 overlaps the second projection area PA-2, and the informationrepresenting the width of the first overlap area. Based on thedesignation information 261, the generation section 245 generates thefirst overlap information 262-1 including the information representingthe first side S-1 of the first projection area PA-1 included in thefirst overlap area DA-1 and the information representing the width ofthe first overlap area DA-1, and the second overlap information 262-2including the information representing the second side S-2 of the secondprojection area PA-2 included in the first overlap area DA-1 and theinformation representing the width of the first overlap area DA-1. Thetransmission section 246 transmits the first overlap information 262-1to the first projector 8-1, and the second overlap information 262-2 tothe second projector 8-2.

Normally, it is required for the user to input the side of the firstoverlap area DA-1 out of the first projection area PA-1 and the overlapwidth of this side, and the side of the first overlap area DA-1 out ofthe second projection area PA-2 and the overlap width of this side.

In contrast, according to the aspect described hereinabove, when theuser inputs just the direction in which the first projection area PA-1overlaps the second projection area PA-2, and the overlap width in thisdirection, the control device 2 sets the edge blending process of thefirst projection area PA-1 and the second projection area PA-2 in alump. Therefore, since the user is not required to input the overlapwidth of the overlap information 262 and the side requiring the edgeblending process for each of the first projector 8-1 and the secondprojector 8-2, the trouble with the input of the setting of the edgeblending process is reduced, and it becomes possible to shorten the timenecessary for the input of the setting of the edge blending process.Further, in an aspect of the control device 2, the first projection areaPA-1 and the second projection area PA-2 overlap each other in thehorizontal direction or the vertical direction. When the firstprojection area PA-1 and the second projection area PA-2 overlap eachother in the horizontal direction, the designation information 261includes the information representing the overlap width in thehorizontal direction of the first overlap area DA-1, and when the firstprojection area PA-1 and the second projection area PA-2 overlap eachother in the vertical direction, the designation information 261includes the information representing the overlap width in the verticaldirection of the first overlap area DA-1.

According to the aspect described hereinabove, it is possible for thecontrol device 2 to respectively set the overlap width when the firstprojection area PA-1 and the second projection area PA-2 overlap eachother in the horizontal direction, and the overlap width when the areasoverlap each other in the vertical direction. Generally, since the widthin the horizontal direction and the width in the vertical direction ofthe projection area PA are different from each other, it is preferablefor the overlap widths in the respective directions to be able to be setto respective values different from each other.

Further, in an aspect of the control device 2, the control device 2 isprovided with the display section 20 for displaying the first simulantimage SG-1 simulating the first projection area PA-1 and the secondsimulant image SG-2 simulating the second projection area PA-2, and thereception section 241 receives the input of the move operation of thefirst simulant image SG-1 and the second simulant image SG-2 and theinput of the overlap width, and receives the process of identifying theoverlapping direction based on the input of the move operation of thefirst simulant image SG-1 and the second simulant image SG-2 to generatethe designation information 261 including the information representingthe overlapping direction thus identified and the overlap width as theinput of the designation information 261.

According to the aspect described hereinabove, it becomes possible forthe user to visually set the direction in which the first projectionarea PA-1 and the second projection area PA-2 overlap each other.

Further, in an aspect of the multi-projection system 1, themulti-projection system 1 includes the first projector 8-1 forprojecting the first image G-1 in the first projection area PA-1 of theprojection surface SC based on the first image data GD-1, the secondprojector 8-2 for projecting the second image G-2 in the secondprojection area PA-2 having the first overlap area DA-1 overlapping thefirst projection area PA-1 based on the second image data GD-2, theimage providing device 4 for providing the first image data GD-1 to thefirst projector 8-1 and the second image data GD-2 to the secondprojector 8-2, and the control device 2 for making the first projector8-1 and the second projector 8-2 perform the edge blending process foradjusting the luminance of the image projected in a part or the whole ofthe first overlap area DA-1.

The control device 2 is provided with the reception section 241, thegeneration section 245 and the transmission section 246, wherein thereception section 241 receives the input of the designation information261 including the information representing the direction in which thefirst projection area PA-1 overlaps the second projection area PA-2 andthe information representing the width of the first overlap area DA-1,the generation section 245 generates the first overlap information 262-1including the information representing the first side S-1 of the firstprojection area PA-1 included in the first overlap area DA-1 and theinformation representing the width of the first overlap area DA-1, andthe second overlap information 262-2 including the informationrepresenting the second side S-2 of the second projection area PA-2included in the first overlap area DA-1 and the information representingthe width of the first overlap area DA-1 based on the designationinformation 261, and the transmission section 246 transmits the firstoverlap information 262-1 to the first projector 8-1, and the secondoverlap information 262-2 to the second projector 8-2.

The first projector 8-1 is provided with the first execution section861-1 and the first projection section 88-1, wherein the first executionsection 861-1 performs the edge blending process in a part or the wholeof the first overlap area DA-1 of the first image G-1 based on the firstimage data GD-1 and the first overlap information 262-1, and the firstprojection section 88-1 projects the image obtained by performing theedge blending process.

The second projector 8-2 is provided with the second execution section861-2 and the second projection section 88-2, wherein the secondexecution section 861-2 performs the edge blending process in a part orthe whole of the second overlap area DA-1 of the second image G-2 basedon the second image data GD-1 and the second overlap information 262-2,and the second projection section 88-2 projects the image obtained byperforming the edge blending process.

According to the aspect described hereinabove, since the user is notrequired to input the overlap width of the overlap information 262 andthe side requiring the edge blending process for each of the firstprojector 8-1 and the second projector 8-2, the trouble with the inputof the setting of the edge blending process is reduced, and it becomespossible to shorten the time necessary for the input of the setting ofthe edge blending process.

B. SECOND EMBODIMENT

In the first embodiment, there are provided the two projectors 8. Incontrast, in a second embodiment, there are further added two projectors8. The second embodiment will hereinafter be described. It should benoted that in each of the embodiments and each of the modified examplesillustrated hereinafter, regarding the elements substantially the samein operation and function as those in the first embodiment, the symbolsused in the first embodiment are diverted, and the detailed descriptionof each of such elements are arbitrarily omitted.

B.1. General Description of Second Embodiment

FIG. 8 shows a multi-projection system 1 according to the secondembodiment. To the second embodiment, there are added a third projector8-3 and a fourth projector 8-4 in addition to the first projector 8-1and the second projector 8-2. The elements described hereinafter areassumed to be the elements related to the second embodiment unlessparticularly described for the sake of abbreviation of the explanation.The third projector 8-3 projects a third image G-3 in a third projectionarea PA-3 of the projection surface SC, and a fourth projector 8-4projects a fourth image G-4 in a fourth projection area PA-4 of theprojection surface SC.

FIG. 9 shows a positional relationship between the projection areas PA.In the second embodiment, the case of performing the blending processonly in the horizontal direction and the case of performing the blendingprocess in both of the horizontal direction and the vertical directionwill be described. The area provided with the hatching with linesextending from the upper right toward the lower left in FIG. 9corresponds to the overlap area DA.

B.1.1. Case of Performing Blending Process Only in Horizontal Direction

The third projection area PA-3 and the fourth projection area PA-4include a second overlap area DA-2 where the third projection area PA-3and the fourth projection area PA-4 overlap each other in the horizontaldirection. Further, the closer the width in the horizontal direction ofthe second overlap area DA-2 is to the first width DX, the morepreferable, wherein the first width DX is the same as the width in thehorizontal direction of the first overlap area DA-1. Further, the closerto the straight line L1 the second side S-2 of the second projectionarea PA-2 and the third side S-3 of the third projection area PA-3included in the second overlap area DA-2 are located, the morepreferable. The closer the width in the horizontal direction of thesecond overlap area DA-2 is to the first width DX which is the same asthe width in the horizontal direction of the first overlap area DA-1,and the closer to the straight line L1 the second side S-2 and the thirdside S-3 are located, the more accurately the positions of the images onwhich the edge blending process is performed are uniformed in thehorizontal direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent anuncomfortable feeling from being provided to the user.

In FIG. 9, in order to avoid complicating the illustration, the width inthe horizontal direction of the second overlap area DA-2 is the firstwidth DX which is the same as the width in the horizontal direction ofthe first overlap area DA-1, and the second side S-2 and the third sideS-3 are located on the straight line L1.

The generation section 245 generates the first overlap information 262-1and the second overlap information 262-2 in the first embodiment, and atthe same time, generates third overlap information 262-3 and fourthoverlap information 262-4. The third overlap information 262-3 includesthe third side S-3 and the first side DX as the information representingthe width in the horizontal direction of the first overlap area DA-1.The fourth overlap information 262-4 includes the fourth side S-4 of thefourth projection area PA-4 included in the second overlap area DA-2,and the first side DX.

The transmission section 246 transmits the third overlap information262-3 to the third projector 8-3, and the fourth overlap information262-4 to the fourth projector 8-4.

The third projector 8-3 projects an image obtained by performing theedge blending process in the second overlap area DA-2 of the third imageG-3. The fourth projector 8-4 projects an image obtained by performingthe edge blending process in the second overlap area DA-2 of the fourthimage G-4.

As described hereinabove, in an aspect of the control device 2, thecontrol device 2 communicates with the third projector 8-3 forprojecting the third image G-3 in the third projection area PA-3 of theprojection surface SC based on the third image data GD-3, and the fourthprojector 8-4 for projecting the fourth image G-4 in the fourthprojection area PA-4 having the second overlap area DA-2 overlapping thethird projection area PA-3 in the horizontal direction based on thefourth image data GD-4 to thereby make the third projector 8-3 and thefourth projector 8-4 perform the edge blending process for adjusting theluminance of the image projected in a part or the whole of the secondoverlap area DA-2. Further, the first projection area PA-1 and thesecond projection area PA-2 overlap each other in the horizontaldirection. The designation information 261 includes informationrepresenting a direction in which the third projection area PA-3overlaps the fourth projection area PA-4. Based on the designationinformation 261, the generation section 245 generates the third overlapinformation 262-3 including information representing the third side S-3included in the second overlap area DA-2 and the informationrepresenting the first width DX, and the fourth overlap information262-4 including the information representing the fourth side S-4 of thefourth projection area PA-4 included in the second overlap area DA-2 andthe information representing the first width DX. The transmissionsection 246 transmits the first overlap information 262-1 to the firstprojector 8-1, the second overlap information 262-2 to the secondprojector 8-2, and at the same time, transmits the third overlapinformation 262-3 to the third projector 8-3, and the fourth overlapinformation 262-4 to the fourth projector 8-4.

When arranging the four projection areas PA as shown in FIG. 9, it iscommon that a value close to the width of the area in which the firstprojector 8-1 and the second projector 8-2 perform the edge blendingprocess is applied to the width of the area in which the third projector8-3 and the fourth projector 8-4 perform the edge blending process.According to the aspect described hereinabove, when the user inputs justthe direction in which the projection areas PA overlap each other, andthe overlap width in this direction, it is possible for the controldevice 2 to set the edge blending process in the horizontal direction ofthe first projection area PA-1, the second projection area PA-2, thethird projection area PA-3 and the fourth projection area PA-4 in alump. Therefore, since the user is not required to input the overlapwidth of the three overlap areas PA and the sides requiring the edgeblending process, the trouble with the input of the setting of the edgeblending process is reduced, and it becomes possible to shorten the timenecessary for the input of the setting of the edge blending process.

B.1.2. Case of Performing Blending Process in Horizontal Direction andVertical Direction

The second projection area PA-2 and the third projection area PA-3overlap each other in the vertical direction. Similarly, the firstprojection area PA-1 and the fourth projection area PA-4 overlap eachother in the vertical direction. In other words, the projection surfaceSC has the two projection areas PA arranged in the horizontal direction,and the two projection areas PA arranged in the vertical direction.Further, the second projection area PA-2 and the third projection areaPA-3 have a third overlap area DA-3 where the second projection areaPA-2 and the third projection area PA-3 overlap each other. Similarly,the first projection area PA-1 and the fourth projection area PA-4 sharea fourth overlap area DA-4. Further, the closer to a straight line L2 afifth side S-5 of the second projection area PA-2 and a seventh side S-7of the first projection area PA-1 are located, the more preferable,wherein the fifth side S-5 is included in the third overlap area DA-3,and the seventh side S-7 is included in the fourth overlap area DA-4.Further, the closer the width in the vertical direction of the thirdoverlap area DA-3 is to a second width DY, the more preferable, whereinthe second width DY is the same as the width in the vertical directionof the fourth overlap area DA-4. The closer the width in the verticaldirection of the third overlap area DA-3 is to the second width DY whichis the same as the width in the vertical direction of the fourth overlaparea DA-4, and the closer to the straight line L2 the fifth side S-5 andthe seventh side S-7 are located, the more accurately the positions ofthe images on which the edge blending process is performed are uniformedin the vertical direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent anuncomfortable feeling from being provided to the user.

In FIG. 9, in order to avoid complicating the illustration, the width inthe vertical direction of the third overlap area DA-3 is the secondwidth DY which is the same as the width in the vertical direction of thefourth overlap area DA-4, and the fifth side S-5 and the seventh sideS-7 are located on the straight line L2.

The designation information 261 includes the direction in which thefirst projection area PA-1 and the second projection area PA-2 overlapeach other, the direction in which the third projection area PA-3 andthe fourth projection area PA-4 overlap each other, the direction inwhich the second projection area PA-2 and the third projection area PA-3overlap each other, the direction in which the first projection areaPA-1 and the fourth projection area PA-4 overlap each other, and thefirst width DX and the second width DY as overlap widths.

The generation section 245 generates the first overlap information262-1, the second overlap information 262-2, the third overlapinformation 262-3 and the fourth overlap information 262-4 based on thedesignation information 261.

The first overlap information 262-1 includes the informationrepresenting the first side S-1, the information representing theseventh side S-7, and the information representing the second width DYas the information representing the width in the vertical direction ofthe fourth overlap area DA-4.

The second overlap information 262-2 includes the informationrepresenting the second side S-2, the information representing the firstwidth DX, the information representing the fifth side S-5, and theinformation representing the second width DY.

The third overlap information 262-3 includes the informationrepresenting the third side S-3, the information representing the firstwidth DX, the information representing a sixth side S-6 of the thirdprojection area PA-3 included in the third overlap area DA-3, and theinformation representing the second width DY.

The fourth overlap information 262-4 includes the informationrepresenting the fourth side S-4, the information representing the firstwidth DX, the information representing an eighth side S-8 of the fourthprojection area PA-4 included in the fourth overlap area DA-4, and theinformation representing the second width DY.

For example, the first overlap information 262-1 is “upper side 0, leftside DX, right side 0, lower side DY.”

The first projector 8-1 projects an image obtained by performing theedge blending process in the first overlap area DA-1 and the fourthoverlap area DA-4 of the first image G-1. The second projector 8-2projects an image obtained by performing the edge blending process inthe first overlap area DA-1 and the third overlap area DA-3 of thesecond image G-2. The third projector 8-3 projects an image obtained byperforming the edge blending process in the second overlap area DA-2 andthe third overlap area DA-3 of the third image G-3. The fourth projector8-4 projects an image obtained by performing the edge blending processin the second overlap area DA-2 and the fourth overlap area DA-4 of thefourth image G-4.

B.2. Advantages of Second Embodiment

As described hereinabove, in an aspect of the control device 2, thesecond projection area PA-2 and the third projection area PA-3 overlapeach other in the vertical direction, and the designation information261 includes the information representing the direction in which thesecond projection area PA-2 overlaps the third projection area PA-3, theinformation representing the direction in which the first projectionarea PA-1 overlaps the fourth projection area PA-4, and the informationrepresenting the width in the vertical direction of the third overlaparea DA-3 in which the second projection area PA-2 and the thirdprojection area PA-3 overlap each other.

The first overlap information 262-1 includes the informationrepresenting the seventh side S-7 of the first projection area PA-1included in the fourth overlap area DA-4 in which the first projectionarea PA-1 and the fourth projection area PA-4 overlap each other, andthe information representing the width in the vertical direction of thethird overlap area DA-3. The first projector 8-1 uses the width in thevertical direction of the third overlap area DA-3 as the width in thevertical direction of the fourth overlap area DA-4.

The second overlap information 262-2 includes the informationrepresenting the fifth side S-5 of the second projection area PA-2included in the third overlap area DA-3, and the informationrepresenting the width in the vertical direction of the third overlaparea DA-3.

The third overlap information 262-3 includes the informationrepresenting the sixth side S-6 of the third projection area PA-3included in the third overlap area DA-3, and the informationrepresenting the width in the vertical direction of the third overlaparea DA-3.

The fourth overlap information 262-4 includes the informationrepresenting the eighth side S-8 of the fourth projection area PA-4included in the fourth overlap area DA-4, and the informationrepresenting the width in the vertical direction of the third overlaparea DA-3. The fourth projector 8-4 uses the width in the verticaldirection of the third overlap area DA-3 as the width in the verticaldirection of the fourth overlap area DA-4.

When arranging the four projection areas PA as shown in FIG. 9, it iscommon that a value close to the width of the area in which the secondprojector 8-2 and the third projector 8-3 perform the edge blendingprocess is applied to the width of the area in which the first projector8-1 and the fourth projector 8-4 perform the edge blending process.According to the aspect described hereinabove, when the user inputs justthe width with which the projection areas PA overlap each other in thehorizontal direction, and the width with which the projection areas PAoverlap each other in the vertical direction, it is possible for thecontrol device 2 to set the edge blending process in the horizontaldirection and the vertical direction of the first projection area PA-1,the second projection area PA-2, the third projection area PA-3 and thefourth projection area PA-4 in a lump. Therefore, since the user is notrequired to input the three overlap widths of the projection areas PAoverlapping each other in the horizontal direction, the three overlapwidths of the projection areas PA overlapping each other in the verticaldirection, and the side requiring the edge blending process, the troublewith the input of the setting of the edge blending process is reduced,and it becomes possible to shorten the time necessary for the input ofthe setting of the edge blending process.

Further, when performing the edge blending process in the horizontaldirection and the vertical direction, as an aspect to the control device2, the control device 2 makes the projectors 8 project confirmationimages KG shown in FIG. 10 to thereby make it possible to allow the userto confirm whether or not the first projection area PA-1, the secondprojection area PA-2, the third projection area PA-3 and the fourthprojection area PA-4 are set correctly. The confirmation image KG isdifferent by the projector 8.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the confirmation images KG. After theprocess in the step S30, namely after transmitting the first overlapinformation 262-1, the second overlap information 262-2, the thirdoverlap information 262-3 and the fourth overlap information 262-4, thetransmission section 246 transmits an instruction of projecting a firstconfirmation image KG-1 to the first projector 8-1, an instruction ofprojecting a green image as a second confirmation image KG-2 to thesecond projector 8-2, an instruction of projecting a magenta image as athird confirmation image KG-3 to the third projector 8-3, and aninstruction of projecting a cyan image as a fourth confirmation imageKG-4 to the fourth projector 8-4. It should be noted that the projectors8 do not perform the edge blending process on the confirmation imagesKG.

The first confirmation image KG-1 is a red image. The secondconfirmation image KG-2 is the green image. The third confirmation imageKG-3 is the magenta image. The fourth confirmation image KG-4 is thecyan image. In FIG. 10, red is represented by the hatching with thelines extending from the upper right toward the lower left, green isrepresented by the hatching with lines extending from the upper lefttoward the lower right, magenta is represented by the hatching like anoblique mesh, and cyan is represented by the hatching like a mesh. Thecolor of an area not overlapping other overlap areas DA in the firstoverlap area DA-1 becomes yellow due to additive color mixing of red andgreen. The color of an area not overlapping other overlap areas DA inthe second overlap area DA-2 becomes whitish blue due to additive colormixing of magenta and cyan. The color of an area not overlapping otheroverlap areas DA in the third overlap area DA-3 becomes whitish gray dueto additive color mixing of green and magenta. The color of an area notoverlapping other overlap areas DA in the fourth overlap area DA-4becomes whitish gray due to additive color mixing of red and cyan. Thecolor of an area where all of the first overlap area DA-1, the secondoverlap area DA-2, the third overlap area DA-3 and the fourth overlaparea DA-4 overlap each other becomes white due to additive color mixingof red, green, magenta and cyan. In FIG. 10, the area where all of thefirst overlap area DA-1, the second overlap area DA-2, the third overlaparea DA-3 and the fourth overlap area DA-4 overlap each other isdescribed as an area not provided with hatching.

Here, red is one of the light's three primary colors, and is an exampleof a “first color.” Green is one of the light's three primary colors,and is an example of a “second color.” Blue is one of the light's threeprimary colors, and is an example of a “third color.” Magenta is a colorobtained by additive color mixing of red and blue, and is an example ofa “fourth color.” Cyan is a color obtained by additive color mixing ofgreen and blue, and is an example of a “fifth color.”

As described hereinabove, in one aspect of the control device 2, aftertransmitting the first overlap information 262-1, the second overlapinformation 262-2, the third overlap information 262-3 and the fourthoverlap information 262-4, the instruction of projecting the image ofthe first color of the light's three primary colors is transmitted tothe first projector 8-1, the instruction of projecting the image of thesecond color of the light's three primary colors is transmitted to thesecond projector 8-2, the instruction of projecting the image of thefourth color obtained by additive color mixing of the first color andthe third color of the light's three primary colors is transmitted tothe third projector 8-3, and the instruction of projecting the image ofthe fifth color obtained by additive color mixing of the second colorand the third color is transmitted to the fourth projector 8-4.

According to the aspect described hereinabove, when the projection areasPA are set correctly, a color of the central part where the firstoverlap area DA-1, the second overlap area DA-2, the third overlap areaDA-3 and the fourth overlap area DA-4 overlap each other becomes whitedue to additive color mixing of the first color, the second color, thefourth color and the fifth color. In contrast, when the projection areasPA are not set correctly, for example, when the projection areas PA failto overlap each other, the white part does not exist. Therefore, itbecomes possible for the user to visually determine whether or not theprojection areas PA are set correctly with ease.

C. MODIFIED EXAMPLES

Each of the embodiments described hereinabove can variously be modified.Specific modified aspects will hereinafter be illustrated. Tow or moreaspects arbitrarily selected from the following illustrations canarbitrarily be combined unless conflicting with each other. It should benoted that in each of the modified examples illustrated hereinafter,regarding the elements substantially the same in operation and functionas those in the embodiments, the reference symbols in the abovedescription are diverted to arbitrarily omit the detailed description ofeach of such elements.

C.1. First Modified Example

The edge blending process of adjusting the luminance of an imageprojected in the whole of the overlap area DA is performed in the firstembodiment, but this is not a limitation. In the first modified example,an edge blending process of adjusting the luminance of an imageprojected in apart of the overlap area DA is performed. The elementsdescribed hereinafter are assumed to be the elements related to thefirst modified example unless particularly described for the sake ofabbreviation of the explanation. As the situations in which it isdesired to adjust the luminance of a part of the overlap area DA, thetwo situations described below can be cited. The first situationcorresponds to when an object which the user particularly desires todisplay shows up in the overlap area DA. The junction between the imagesG becomes inconspicuous due to the edge blending process, but theoverlap fails to be achieved correctly to generate two images in somecases. Therefore, it is preferable to avoid setting the area where theobject which the user particularly desires to display shows up to thearea in which the edge blending process is to be performed. The secondsituation corresponds to when the overlap width of the overlap area DAexceeds an appropriate length. This is because the longer the overlapwidth of the overlap area DA is, the larger the processing amount ofedge blending process becomes.

Similarly to the second embodiment, in the first modified example, theprojection surface SC has the two projection areas PA arranged in thehorizontal direction and the two projection areas PA arranged in thevertical direction, and the edge blending process of adjusting theluminance of images projected in a part of the first overlap area DA-1,a part of the second overlap area DA-2, apart of the third overlap areaDA-3 and a part of the fourth overlap area DA-4 of the second embodimentis performed. It should be noted that in the first modified example, inorder to make the explanation easier, it is assumed that the edgeblending process of adjusting the luminance of images projected in thewhole of the second overlap area DA-2, the whole of the third overlaparea DA-3, the whole of the first overlap area DA-1 and the whole of thefourth overlap area DA-4 is not performed.

Hereinafter, a set of the first overlap area DA-1 and the second overlaparea DA-2, and a set of the third overlap area DA-3 and the fourthoverlap area DA-4 are collectively referred to as “overlap areas DA inthe horizontal direction” in some cases. Further, a set of the secondoverlap area DA-2 and the third overlap area DA-3, and a set of thefirst overlap area DA-1 and the fourth overlap area DA-4 arecollectively referred to as “overlap areas DA in the vertical direction”in some cases.

FIG. 11 shows a positional relationship between the projection areas PA.The area provided with the hatching with lines extending from the upperright toward the lower left and the area provided with the hatching likean oblique mesh in FIG. 11 correspond to the overlap areas DA. Theprojectors 8 perform the edge blending process in a first area R-1 and asecond area R-2 provided with the hatching with the lines extending fromthe upper right toward the lower left in the overlap areas DA.

The first area R-1 is an area from a start line SL which is a lineparallel to the second side S-2, and determines a starting position tothe first side S-1 in the first overlap area DA-1. The second area R-2is an area from the start line SL to the fourth side S-4 in the secondoverlap area DA-2.

The reception section 241 receives the designation information 261including a first distance D1 from the start line SL to the first sideS-1, a second distance D2 from the second side S-2 to the start line SL,the direction in which the first projection area PA-1 overlaps thesecond projection area PA-2, and the direction in which the thirdprojection area PA-3 overlaps the fourth projection area PA-4. The firstdirection D1 corresponds to the widths of the first area R-1 and thesecond area R-2 in which the edge blending process is performed.Hereinafter, in order to make the explanation easy, the first distanceD1 is referred to as an “edge blending width.” The second distance D2coincides with the values of the starting positions of the first areaR-1 and the second area R-2 when setting the second side S-2 as areference.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the edge blending setting screen 203. Theedge blending setting screen 203 has a user interface (UI) for making itpossible to receive the first distance D1 and the second distance D2.Further, the edge blending setting screen 203 has a UI capable ofdealing with when performing the edge blending process of adjusting theluminance of a part of the overlap area DA in the horizontal direction,and when performing the edge blending process of overlapping theluminance of a part of the overlap area DA in the vertical direction.

Specifically, the input area 2031 has an entry field 2032′a, a decrementbutton 2032′b and an increment button 2032′c for the edge blendingwidth, and the preview image 2033. Further, the input area 2031 has anentry field 2034 a, a decrement button 2034 b and an increment button2034 c for the starting position when performing the edge blendingprocess of adjusting the luminance of a part of the overlap area DA inthe horizontal direction.

Further, the input area 2035 has an entry field 2036′a, a decrementbutton 2036′b and an increment button 2036′c for the edge blendingwidth, and the preview image 2037. Further, the input area 2035 has anentry field 2038 a, a decrement button 2038 b and an increment button2038 c for the starting position when performing the edge blendingprocess of adjusting the luminance of a part of the overlap area DA inthe vertical direction.

The reception section 241 receives the value in the entry field 2032′aas the first distance D1, and the value in the entry field 2034 a as thesecond distance D2 to generate the designation information 261.

The generation section 245 generates the first overlap information262-1, the second overlap information 262-2, the third overlapinformation 262-3 and the fourth overlap information 262-4 based on thedesignation information 261. The first overlap information 262-1includes the information representing the first side S-1 and informationrepresenting the first distance D1. The first overlap information 262-2includes the information representing the second side S-2 andinformation representing the first distance D1 and the second distanceD2. The third overlap information 262-3 includes the informationrepresenting the third side S-3 and the information representing thefirst distance D1 and the second distance D2. The fourth overlapinformation 262-4 includes the information representing the fourth sideS-4 and the information representing the first distance D1.

Similarly to the first embodiment, as aspects of the overlap informationin the first modified example, the two alternatives described below canbe cited. The first aspect of the overlap information 262 includes justthe information representing the side S, the first distance D1 and thesecond distance D2 if necessary. The second aspect of the overlapinformation 262 includes the information representing all of the sidesof the overlap area DA, and the information representing the firstdistance D1 and the second distance D2 of each of the sides. When thesecond distance D2 is unnecessary, the second aspect of the overlapinformation 262 includes 0 instead of the second distance D2.

Using the example shown in FIG. 12, since the first side S-1 is set tothe right side, the first distance D1 is set to 30, and the seconddistance D2 is unnecessary and is therefore set to 0, the second aspectof the first overlap information 262-1 becomes, for example, “upper side0, 0, left side 0, 0, right side 30, 0, lower side 0, 0.” The secondaspect of the fourth overlap information 262-4 becomes the same incontent as the second aspect of the first overlap information 262-1.Further, since the second side S-2 is set to the left side, the firstdistance D1 is set to 30, and the second distance D2 is set to 10, thesecond aspect of the second overlap information 262-2 becomes, forexample, “upper side 0, 0, left side 30, 10, right side 0, 0, lower side0, 0.” The second aspect of the third overlap information 262-3 becomesthe same in content as the second aspect of the second overlapinformation 262-2.

The transmission section 246 transmits the first overlap information262-1 to the first projector 8-1, the second overlap information 262-2to the second projector 8-2, the third overlap information 262-3 to thethird projector 8-3, and the fourth overlap information 262-4 to thefourth projector 8-4.

The first projector 8-1 projects an image obtained by performing theedge blending process in the first area R-1 of the first image G-1 basedon the first image data GD-1 and the first overlap information 262-1.The second projector 8-2 projects an image obtained by performing theedge blending process in the first area R-1 of the second image G-2based on the second image data GD-2 and the second overlap information262-2. The third projector 8-3 projects an image obtained by performingthe edge blending process in the second area R-2 of the third image G-3based on the third image data GD-3 and the third overlap information262-3. The fourth projector 8-4 projects an image obtained by performingthe edge blending process in the second area R-2 of the fourth image G-4based on the fourth image data GD-4 and the fourth overlap information262-4.

As described hereinabove, in an aspect of the control device 2, thecontrol device 2 communicates with the first projector 8-1, the secondprojector 8-2, the third projector 8-3 and the fourth projector 8-4,wherein the first projector 8-1 projects the first image G-1 in thefirst projection area PA-1 of the projection surface SC based on thefirst image data GD-1, the second projector 8-2 projects the secondimage G-2 in the second projection area PA-2 having the first overlaparea DA-1 overlapping the first projection area PA-1 in the horizontaldirection based on the second image data GD-2, the third projector 8-3projects the third image G-3 in the third projection area PA-3 of theprojection surface SC based on the third image data GD-3, and the fourthprojector 8-4 projects the fourth image G-4 in the fourth projectionarea PA-4 having the second overlap area DA-2 overlapping the thirdprojection area PA-3 in the horizontal direction based on the fourthimage data GD-4, and thus, the control device 2 makes the firstprojector 8-1 and the second projector 8-2 perform the edge blendingprocess of adjusting the luminance of the image projected in a part ofthe first overlap area DA-1, and makes the third projector 8-3 and thefourth projector 8-4 perform the edge blending process of adjusting theluminance of the image projected in a part of the second overlap areaDA-2.

Further, the edge blending process is a process of adjusting theluminance of the image projected in the first area R-1 from the startline SL, which is the line parallel to the second side S-2, anddetermines the starting position, to the first side S-1 of the firstprojection area PA-1 in the first overlap area DA-1, and the second areaR-1 from the start line SL to the fourth side S-4 of the fourthprojection area PA-4 in the second overlap area DA-2.

Further, the control device 2 is provided with the reception section241, the generation section 245 and the transmission section 246. Thereception section 241 receives the designation information 261 includingthe first distance D1 from the start line SL to the first side S-1, thesecond distance D2 from the second side S-2 to the start line SL, theinformation representing the direction in which the first projectionarea PA-1 overlaps the second projection area PA-2, and the informationrepresenting the direction in which the third projection area PA-3overlaps the fourth projection area PA-4. The generation section 245generates the first overlap information 262-1, the second overlapinformation 262-2, the third overlap information 262-3 and the fourthoverlap information 262-4 based on the designation information 261,wherein the first overlap information 262-1 includes the informationrepresenting the first side S-1 of the first projection area PA-1 andthe information representing the first distance D1, the second overlapinformation 262-2 includes the information representing the second sideS-2 of the second projection area PA-2 and the information representingthe first distance D1 and the second distance D2, the third overlapinformation 262-3 includes the information representing the third sideS-3 of the third projection area PA-3 and the information representingthe first distance D1 and the second distance D2, and the fourth overlapinformation 262-4 includes the information representing the fourth sideS-4 of the fourth projection area PA-4 and the information representingthe first distance D1. The transmission section 246 transmits the firstoverlap information 262-1 to the first projector 8-1, the second overlapinformation 262-2 to the second projector 8-2, the third overlapinformation 262-3 to the third projector 8-3, and the fourth overlapinformation 262-4 to the fourth projector 8-4.

Normally, when the projection surface SC has the two projection areas PAarranged in the horizontal direction, and the two projection areas PAarranged in the vertical direction, the user is required to input thefirst distance D1 and the second distance D2 of the first overlap areaDA-1 and the first distance D1 and the second distance D2 of the secondoverlap area DA-2 when performing the edge blending process of adjustingthe luminance of a part of the overlap area DA.

In contrast, according to the aspect described hereinabove, when theuser input just the first distance D1 and the second distance D2, thecontrol device 2 sets the first distance D1 and the second distance D2of the first overlap area DA-1 and the first distance D1 and the seconddistance D2 of the second overlap area DA-2 in a lump. Therefore, sincethe user is not required to input the first distance D1 and the seconddistance D2 of one of the overlap areas DA, the trouble with the inputof the setting of the edge blending process of adjusting the luminanceof a part of the overlap area DA is reduced, and thus, it becomespossible to shorten the time necessary for the input of the setting ofthe edge blending process.

C.2. Second Modified Example

The projection surface SC includes the two projection areas PA arrangedin the horizontal direction and the two projection areas PA arranged inthe vertical direction in the second embodiment and the first modifiedexample, but this is not a limitation. For example, it is also possiblefor the projection surface SC to have N projection areas PA arranged inthe horizontal direction, and M projection areas PA arranged in thevertical direction. The value M is an integer equal to or greaterthan 1. The value N is also an integer equal to or greater than 1. Itshould be noted that the values M and N are not set to 1 at the sametime. Further, it is also possible to project the confirmation images KGfor confirming whether or not the projection areas PA are set correctly.

FIG. 13 shows an example the projection of the confirmation images KGwhen M=6 and N=6 are assumed. In FIG. 13, a first color is representedby the hatching with the lines extending from the upper right toward thelower left, a second color is represented by the hatching with linesextending from the upper left toward the lower right, a third color isrepresented by the hatching like an oblique mesh, and a fourth color isrepresented by the hatching like a mesh. It should be noted that in FIG.13, the overlap areas DA are not drawn in order to avoid complication ofthe drawing.

The transmission section 246 transmits an instruction of projecting thefirst confirmation image KG-1 to the projectors 8 for projecting theimages G in the projection areas PA located in the odd-numbered columnsfrom the end in the negative direction of the X axis and in theodd-numbered rows from the end in the positive direction of the Y axis.Similarly, the transmission section 246 transmits an instruction ofprojecting the second confirmation image KG-2 to the projectors 8 forprojecting the images G in the projection areas PA located in theeven-numbered columns from the end in the negative direction of the Xaxis and in the odd-numbered rows from the end in the positive directionof the Y axis. The transmission section 246 transmits an instruction ofprojecting the third confirmation image KG-3 to the projectors 8 forprojecting the images G in the projection areas PA located in theeven-numbered columns from the end in the negative direction of the Xaxis and in the even-numbered rows from the end in the positivedirection of the Y axis. The transmission section 246 transmits aninstruction of projecting the fourth confirmation image KG-4 to theprojectors 8 for projecting the images G in the projection areas PAlocated in the odd-numbered columns from the end in the negativedirection of the X axis and in the even-numbered rows from the end inthe positive direction of the Y axis.

Since the color of the areas where the four overlap areas DA overlapeach other becomes white when the projection areas PA are set correctly,it becomes possible for the user to easily identify whether or not theprojection areas PA are set correctly.

C.3. Third Modified Example

In the first embodiment, the control device 2 and the image providingdevice 4 are separate devices, but this is not a limitation. Forexample, it is also possible for the control device 2 to provide theimage data GD to the projectors 8. Further, when providing the imagedata GD to the projectors 8, it is possible for the control device 2 toperform the edge blending process for the projectors 8. The elementsdescribed hereinafter are assumed to be the elements related to thethird modified example unless particularly described for the sake ofabbreviation of the explanation.

FIG. 14 shows a configuration example of the multi-projection system 1.The storage section 26 stores the first image data GD-1 and the secondimage data GD-2. In FIG. 14, in order to avoid complication of thedrawing, the image data GD is described as a representative of the firstimage data GD-1 and the second image data GD-2. The processing section24 retrieves and then executes a program stored in the storage section26 to thereby be provided with the reception section 241, the generationsection 245, an execution section 247 and a transmission section 246A.

The execution section 247 performs the edge blending process in a partor the whole of the first overlap area DA-1 of the first image G-1 basedon the first image data GD-1 and the first overlap information 262-1,and performs the edge blending process in a part or the whole of thefirst overlap area DA-1 of the second image G-2 based on the secondimage data GD-2 and the second overlap information 262-2.

The transmission section 246A transmits first edge blending image dataEGD-1 representing an image, which is obtained by performing the edgeblending process in a part or the whole of the first overlap area DA-1of the first image G-1, to the first projector 8-1. Further, thetransmission section 246A transmits second edge blending image dataEGD-1 representing an image, which is obtained by performing the edgeblending process in a part or the whole of the first overlap area DA-1of the second image G-2, to the second projector 8-2.

The first projector 8-1 has the first reception section 84-1 and thefirst projection section 88-1. The first reception section 84-1 receivesthe first edge blending image data EGD-1 from the control device 2. Thefirst projection section 88-1 projects the image represented by thefirst edge blending image data EGD-1.

The second projector 8-2 has the second reception section 84-2 and thesecond projection section 88-2. The second reception section 84-2receives the second edge blending image data EGD-2 from the controldevice 2. The second projection section 88-2 projects the imagerepresented by the second edge blending image data EGD-2.

As described hereinabove, in an aspect of the multi-projection system 1,the multi-projection system 1 includes the first projector 8-1, thesecond projector 8-2 and the control device 2, wherein the firstprojector projects the first image G-1 in the first projection area PA-1of the projection surface SC based on the first image data GD-1, thesecond projector 8-2 projects the second image G-2 in the secondprojection area PA-2 having the first overlap area DA-1 overlapping thefirst projection area PA-1 based on the second image data GD-2, and thecontrol device 2 makes the first projector 8-1 and the second projector8-2 perform the edge blending process for adjusting the luminance of theimage projected in apart or the whole of the first overlap area DA-1.

Further, the control device 2 is provided with the reception section241, the generation section 245, the execution section 247 and thetransmission section 246A. The reception section 241 receives input ofthe storage section 26 storing the first image data GD-1 and the secondimage data GD-2, and the designation information 261 including theinformation representing the direction in which the first projectionarea PA-1 overlaps the second projection area PA-2, and the width of thefirst overlap area. Based on the designation information 261, thegeneration section 245 generates the first overlap information 262-1including the information representing the first side S-1 of the firstprojection area PA-1 included in the first overlap area DA-1 and theinformation representing the width of the first overlap area DA-1, andthe second overlap information 262-2 including the informationrepresenting the second side S-2 of the second projection area PA-2included in the first overlap area DA-1 and the information representingthe width of the first overlap area DA-1. The execution section 247performs the edge blending process in a part or the whole of the firstoverlap area DA-1 of the first image G-1 based on the first image dataGD-1 and the first overlap information 262-1, and performs the edgeblending process in a part or the whole of the first overlap area DA-1of the second image G-2 based on the second image data GD-2 and thesecond overlap information 262-2. The transmission section 246Atransmits the first edge blending image data EGD-1 representing theimage obtained by performing the edge blending process in a part or thewhole of the first overlap area DA-1 of the first image G-1 to the firstprojector 8-1, and transmits the second edge blending image data EGD-2representing the image obtained by performing the edge blending processin a part or the whole of the first overlap area DA-1 of the secondimage G-2 to the second projector 8-2.

The first projector 8-1 is provided with the first projection section88-1 for projecting the image represented by the first edge blendingimage data EGD-1.

The second projector 8-2 is provided with the second projection section88-2 for projecting the image represented by the second edge blendingimage data EGD-2.

According to the aspect described hereinabove, since the user is notrequired to input the overlap width of one of the overlap areas PA andthe sides requiring the edge blending process, the trouble with theinput of the setting of the edge blending process is reduced, and itbecomes possible to shorten the time necessary for the input of thesetting of the edge blending process. Further, since the control device2 performs the edge blending process for the projectors 8, it becomespossible to suppress the load on the projectors 8.

C.4. Other Modified Examples

The edge blending process of adjusting the luminance of the whole of theoverlap area DA is performed in the first embodiment, but this is not alimitation. For example, it is also possible for the execution section861 to perform the edge blending process on a predetermined proportionto the overlap width included in the overlap information 262. It ispossible for the control device 2 to inform the projectors 8 of thepredetermined proportion in advance, or it is possible for theprojectors 8 to store the predetermined proportion in advance inshipping.

In the edge blending process, it is possible to perform a pixeladjustment for adjust the shape of the overlap area DA in addition tothe adjustment of the luminance of the image to be projected in a partor the whole of the overlap area DA.

In the second embodiment, red is an example of the first color, green isan example of the second color, and blue is an example of the thirdcolor, but this is not a limitation. For example, green or blue can alsobe used as the first color.

In each of the embodiments described above, the horizontal direction isan example of the first direction, and the vertical direction is anexample of the second direction, but this is not a limitation. Forexample, it is also possible to define the vertical direction as thefirst direction, and the horizontal direction as the second direction.Alternatively, it is also possible to define a direction rotatedcounterclockwise as much as θ from the positive direction of the X axisas the first direction, and a direction rotated counterclockwise as muchas θ+90 degrees from the positive direction of the X axis as the seconddirection. The angle θ is a real number no smaller than 0 and smallerthan 360 degrees. Alternatively, it is also possible for the firstdirection and the second direction not to be perpendicular to eachother, but simply differ from each other.

In each of the embodiments described above, the shape of the projectionarea PA shown in FIG. 1 and so on is a rectangular shape, but is notlimited to a rectangular shape. For example, the shape of the projectionarea PA can also be a parallelogram or a trapezoidal shape, and is onlyrequired to be an arbitrary quadrangular shape. Further, the sides ofthe projection area PA are each a straight line in FIG. 1, but can alsobe a curved line. Further, the shapes of the projection areas PA can bethe same, or can also be different from each other.

In each of the embodiments described above, the projection surface SCshown in FIG. 2 and so on is a plane surface, but can also be a curvedsurface. Further, it is also possible for the projection areas PA tooverlap each other to form a ring. For example, it is assumed that themulti-projection system 1 has the first projector 8-1 through an L-thprojector 8-L. The value L is an integer equal to or greater than 2. Theprojection surface SC includes the first projection area PA-1 through aprojection area PA-L. The projection areas PA overlap along thehorizontal direction. Then, the right side of the projection area PA-ioverlaps the left side of the projection area PA-(i+1). The value i isan integer in a range from 1 to L−1. In this case, it is possible forthe right side of the projection area PA-L to overlap the left side ofthe first projection area PA-1.

In the projection section 88 in each of the embodiments described above,the liquid crystal light valves are used as the light modulation device,but the light modulation device is not limited to the liquid crystallight valves, and can arbitrarily be changed. For example, it is alsopossible for the light modulation device to have a configuration usingthree reflective liquid crystal panels. Further, it is also possible forthe light modulation device to have a configuration such as a systemusing a single liquid crystal panel, a system using three digital mirrordevices (DMD), or a system using a single digital mirror device. Whenjust one liquid crystal panel or DMD is used as the light modulationdevice, the members corresponding to the color separation optical systemand the color combining optical system are unnecessary. Further, besidesthe liquid crystal panel or the DMD, any configurations capable ofmodulating the light emitted by the light source can be adopted as thelight modulation device.

In each of the aspects described above, some or all of the elementsrealized by the processing section 24 executing the program can also berealized by hardware using an electronic circuit such as a FPGA (fieldprogrammable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific IC), or canalso be realized by a cooperative operation of software and hardware.Further, the present disclosure is specified as a control method of thecontrol device 2 according to each of the aspects described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control device configured to communicate with afirst projector which projects a first image in a first projection areaof a projection surface, and a second projector which projects a secondimage in a second projection area having a first overlap areaoverlapping the first projection area to make the first projector andthe second projector perform an edge blending process of adjusting aluminance of an image projected in one of a part and a whole of thefirst overlap area, the control device comprising: a reception sectionconfigured to receive input of designation information includinginformation representing a direction in which the first projection areaoverlaps the second projection area, and information representing awidth of the first overlap area; a generation section configured togenerate first overlap information including information representing afirst side of the first projection area included in the first overlaparea and information representing the width of the first overlap area,and second overlap information including information representing asecond side of the second projection area included in the first overlaparea and information representing the width of the first overlap areabased on the designation information; and a transmission sectionconfigured to transmit the first overlap information to the firstprojector, and the second overlap information to the second projector.2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the first projectionarea and the second projection area overlap each other in one of a firstdirection and a second direction different from the first direction,when the first projection area and the second projection area overlap inthe first direction, the designation information includes informationrepresenting a width in the first direction of the first overlap area,and when the first projection area and the second projection areaoverlap in the second direction, the designation information includesinformation representing a width in the second direction of the firstoverlap area.
 3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol device communicates with a third projector which projects athird image in a third projection area of the projection surface, and afourth projector which projects a fourth image in a fourth projectionarea having a second overlap area overlapping the third projection areain a first direction to make the third projector and the fourthprojector perform an edge blending process of adjusting a luminance ofan image projected in one of a part and a whole of the second overlaparea, the first projection area and the second projection area overlapeach other in the first direction, the designation information includesinformation representing a direction in which the third projection areaoverlaps the fourth projection area, the generation section generatesthird overlap information including information representing a thirdside of the third projection area included in the second overlap areaand information representing a width in the first direction of the firstoverlap area, and fourth overlap information including informationrepresenting a fourth side of the fourth projection area included in thesecond overlap area and information representing the width in the firstdirection of the first overlap area based on the designationinformation, and the transmission section transmits the third overlapinformation to the third projector, and the fourth overlap informationto the fourth projector.
 4. The control device according to claim 3,wherein the second projection area and the third projection area overlapeach other in a second direction different from the first direction, andthe first projection area and the fourth projection area overlap eachother in the second direction, the designation information includesinformation representing a direction in which the second projection areaoverlaps the third projection area, information representing a directionin which the first projection area overlaps the fourth projection area,and information representing a width in the second direction of thethird overlap area in which the second projection area and the thirdprojection area overlap each other, the first overlap informationincludes information representing a seventh side of the first projectionarea included in a fourth overlap area in which the first projectionarea and the fourth projection area overlap each other, and informationrepresenting a width in the second direction of the third overlap area,the second overlap information includes information representing a fifthside of the second projection area included in the third overlap area,and information representing the width in the second direction of thethird overlap area, the third overlap information includes informationrepresenting a sixth side of the third projection area included in thethird overlap area, and information representing the width in the seconddirection of the third overlap area, and the fourth overlap informationincludes information representing an eighth side of the fourthprojection area included in the fourth overlap area, and informationrepresenting the width in the second direction of the third overlaparea.
 5. The control device according to claim 4, wherein after thetransmission section transmits the first overlap information, the secondoverlap information, the third overlap information and the fourthoverlap information, the transmission section transmits an instructionof projecting an image of a first color of light's three primary colorsto the first projector, an instruction of projecting an image of asecond color of the light's three primary colors to the secondprojector, an instruction of projecting an image of a fourth colorobtained by additive color mixing of the first color and a third colorof the light's three primary colors to the third projector, and aninstruction of projecting an image of a fifth color obtained by additivecolor mixing of the second color and the third color to the fourthprojector.
 6. A control device configured to communicate with a firstprojector which projects a first image in a first projection area of aprojection surface, a second projector which projects a second image ina second projection area having a first overlap area overlapping thefirst projection area in a first direction, a third projector whichprojects a third image in a third projection area of the projectionsurface based on third image data, and a fourth projector which projectsa fourth image in a fourth projection area having a second overlap areaoverlapping the third projection area in the first direction based onfourth image data to make the first projector and the second projectorperform an edge blending process of adjusting a luminance of an imageprojected in a part of the first overlap area, and make the thirdprojector and the fourth projector perform an edge blending process ofadjusting a luminance of an image projected in apart of the secondoverlap area, the edge blending process being a process of adjusting aluminance of an image projected in a first area from a start line whichis a line parallel to a second side of the second projection area anddetermines a starting position to a first side of the first projectionarea in the first overlap area, and a second area from the start line toa fourth side of the fourth projection area in the second overlap area,the control device comprising: a reception section configured to receivedesignation information including a first distance from the start lineto the first side, a second distance from the second side to the startline, information representing a direction in which the first projectionarea overlaps the second projection area, and information representing adirection in which the third projection area overlaps the fourthprojection area; a generation section configured to generate firstoverlap information including information representing the first side ofthe first projection area and information representing the firstdistance, second overlap information including information representingthe second side of the second projection area and informationrepresenting the first distance and the second distance, third overlapinformation including information representing the third side of thethird projection area and information representing the first distanceand the second distance, and fourth overlap information includinginformation representing the fourth side of the fourth projection areaand the information representing the first distance based on thedesignation information; and a transmission section configured totransmit the first overlap information to the first projector, thesecond overlap information to the second projector, the third overlapinformation to the third projector, and the fourth overlap informationto the fourth projector.
 7. The control device according to claim 1,further comprising: a display section configured to display a firstsimulant image simulating the first projection area, and a secondsimulant image simulating the second projection area, wherein thereception section receives input of a move operation of the firstsimulant image and the second simulant image and input of a width of thefirst overlap area, and receives identifying the overlapping directionbased on the input of the move operation of the first simulant image andthe second simulant image to generate the designation informationincluding information representing the overlapping direction identifiedand information representing the width of the first overlap area asinput of the designation information.
 8. A control method of a controldevice configured to communicate with a first projector which projects afirst image in a first projection area of a projection surface, and asecond projector which projects a second image in a second projectionarea having a first overlap area overlapping the first projection areato make the first projector and the second projector perform an edgeblending process of adjusting a luminance of an image projected in oneof a part and a whole of the first overlap area, the method comprising:receiving, by the control device, input of designation informationincluding information representing a direction in which the firstprojection area overlaps the second projection area, and informationrepresenting a width of the first overlap area; generating, by thecontrol device, first overlap information including informationrepresenting a first side of the first projection area included in thefirst overlap area and the information representing the width of thefirst overlap area, and second overlap information including informationrepresenting a second side of the second projection area included in thefirst overlap area and the information representing the width of thefirst overlap area based on the designation information; andtransmitting, by the control device, the first overlap information tothe first projector, and the second overlap information to the secondprojector.